ERA Canada: A chapter reborn

After being nearly dormant, the ERA Canada chapter is finding incredible success in its efforts to revive the chapter and bring the industry together north of the border

A decade ago, ERA Canada was almost dormant, according to current chapter officers. Today, the chapter hosts an annual golf event that attracts more than 180 golfers and 20 sponsors. In June 2025, the chapter’s golf event raised $27,000 for Make-a-Wish Canada, with Electro Sonic, a Master Electronics company, donating an additional $5,000.

Tyler Mercer of Make-a-Wish Canada and Niall Flanagan of Electro Sonic

The chapter’s annual November networking event, “November to Remember,” regularly hosts more than 100 attendees and numerous sponsors, and also benefits Make-a-Wish Canada.

How did the chapter turn things around so quickly, and in such dramatic fashion?

“From my perspective, underneath the dormancy, sales reps generally want to collaborate and work together, but for whatever reason, we had gotten more insular,” said Adam Grigor, president of Tech-Trek, Ltd., and active ERA Canada member. “Once we started having a couple small events and bringing people together, it was clear that maybe we are competitors, but we are friends and colleagues and we really enjoy learning from each other and spending time together. It kind of snowballed from there.”

Adam Grigor, Tyler Mercer and Bob Randall

I had my ‘a-ha’ moment right after COVID,” said Rob De Rose, founder and president of CST-Arwin and current co-president of ERA Canada. “Adam Grigor and Walter Tobin were trying to resurrect ERA Canada together, and I went to Austin for the ERA National Conference, and it hit me like a freight train. I said to myself, I’ve got to get involved in this. We knew this would be a valuable thing to do, to bring the industry back together again in eastern Canada. Coming out of COVID, the timing was perfect. We’ve gained a lot of traction since then.”

Rob, Adam, Gerry Iuliano, co-president of ERA Canada, and Bob Randall came together and put in a full effort. They formally incorporated the chapter, obtained nonprofit status, opened up bank accounts, and started hosting and promoting small events. They took a previously discontinued industry golf event and resurrected it under the ERA brand, securing major distributors like Electro Sonic, TTI, DigiKey, Sager and Mouser for support. Attendance at these events has skyrocketed. The chapter finds great success by utilizing marketing consultant Tracy Lelyk to organize and promote the golf event.

The chapter’s annual golf outing is a tremendous success.

The chapter’s November to Remember is a pure networking event, where more than 100 industry colleagues enjoy wine, cheese, appetizers and entertainment, and participate in a toy drive benefiting Make-a-Wish Canada.

Reps, manufacturers and distributors—all three legs of the stool—attend ERA Canada’s major chapter events and there is no shortage of volunteers.

The chapter wants to keep the momentum going, and has goals for the future, including: expanding its reach by organizing small events in Western Canada; planning virtual, educational events; and formally reaching out to colleges, professors and students to educate them about the role and value of a manufacturers’ rep.

“We always are hearing, how do we attract young people?” said De Rose. “We keep thinking about it. Let’s start with community colleges and have the faculty at least understand our industry.”

ERA National gives tremendous kudos to these ERA Canada leaders for their impressive efforts and success!